Beet topper



J. WOLNY BEET TOPPER oct. 6,1925.

5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. l2

'Juve/nto@ J. WOLNY BEET TOPPER oct. 6, 192s.

. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12

J. WOLNY BEET TOPPER Filed Sept. 12, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

vuiu'rio sl'mfrasA JOSEPH WOLNY, OF SHERIDAN, WYOMING,

BEET TOPPER. 1

Application filed September 12, 1923. Serial No. 662,286.

To all whom t may concern." s n Be it kno-wn that I, JOSEPH VOLNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheridan, in the county of Sheridan and State of l/Vyoming, have invented al new and useful Beet Topper, of which'the following isa specification.

This inventi'on'aims to provide improved means for cutting the tops oli" thebeets,^to

provide improved means for guiding the beet tops into the eld of operation ofl theV cutting means, to' provide novel means'for carrying away the tops ofthe beets, a.ndto improve generally andto enhance the utility of devices of that type to whichthe invention appertains. y v j 71th the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description vproceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in' the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, -it being' understood that, *within the, scope of what is'claimed, change'sin the precise embodiment of the linvention shown can bemalde'without departing from the spirit of the invention.`

In the acco-mpanying drawings A Figure 1 shows in side elevation, adevice constructed in accordance with the inven- Ation,parts beingbroken away; `Figure 2 is a top plan, parts being -broken away; Figure 3 is across section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1; Figure 4l is a fragmental longitudinal section taken through the topping mechanism, most parts appearing in elevation; Figure 5 is af'bottom plan of the shoes of the topper; Figure f6 is a longitudinal section of the cross chute; Figure 7 isa section on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

The machine embodies an upwardly arched axle lof common form. A, main frame 2 is pro-vided, the main frame including upper longitudinallbars 3V and lower longitudinal bars 4. The upper llongitudinal bars 3 .are mounted on the crown of the axle whereas the lower bars 4 are mounted on' the ends of the axle 1.v The bars` 3 are connected by al rear orossbar 5 and by other cross bars 6, 7 and 8, the bar 8 being located adjacentv to the forward end of the machine. Y .Y a l A draft yoke 9 is attached tothe forward ends of the lower longitudinal bars 4. Passing to Figure 3, it lwill be noted that the bars 4 and 3 of the main frame are connected adjacentito 'their forward ends, by uprights 1() carrying outwardly extended 1ingers 11 which may be provided'with'sp'acing shoulders12, the lingers being held in place on'the vuprigh'ts 10 by nuts 14.

.The machine embodies an upright auxillary frame 15, shown 1n detail inl Figure3,

and appearing in side elevation inFigure 1. The'v auxiliary frame15 includes a top piece 16 and side pieces 17, the parts 17 and 16 being connected infany suitable way, asy shown at 18. Horizontal longitudinal 'bars y 19 are secured to th'e'lower ends vof the'jside pieces 17 and carry depending rear arms 20 through .which extendsV a rod or support 214 (Figures 4 and 5) The side pieces 17 carryV inwardly extended brackets 23. yHangers 22- are provided and are equipped at" their upy per endsl with outwardly extended arms 24, having slots 25 whichreceive, for adjustment, clamping devices 26 engaged with the brackets 23. The sidepieces 17 of the auX- iliafry frame 15 have vertically elongated I slots 27 receiving the fingers 11l slid'ably, the spacing shoulders 12 being interposed between the parts 17 and 10, andthe construction being' such that the forward' end ofthe main frame'l may be adjusted vertically with Yrespect tothe auxiliary frame 15.

rThe means for raising and lowering the forward end of the mainframe 1 may lembody a lever 28 fulcrumed at 29 on a twopart post 30 carried by the crossbar 8.`v The lever 28 is pivotally 'connectedat 31 with a hanger 32 mounted on the top'piece 1G of the auxiliary frame 15. The lever 28 eX,- tends rearwardly far enough so that it is readily accessible from a'seat 33 v,carried by the cross lbars 6. A keepery 34 is supported by thecross bar 7, and the lever 28 is adapted to cooperatek withv the keeper." The mechanism above described and relatingto the vertical adjustment of the forwardend of the main frame 2 is of no particular utility in connection with the toppingkmechanism forming the subject matter of this application. Its use,-principally, is'i'n con-` nection witha digger 'for the purpose of adl.

justing the digger with respect to the surface ofthe soil.

Passing tothe ldescription of the topping mechanism, it maybe stated that shoes 35 chine, attention being directed especially to 7arelocated adjacent to thefront ofthe ma- 36 ofthe shoes 35 are connected at 33 to' the hangers 22 as shown in Figure 3. Bearings 39 are mounted on the rear ends of the depending flanges 37 of the-shoes, and' receive the rod or support 21 which is mounted in the arms 20 of the auxiliary frame. The horizontal flanges 36 of the shoes 35 are provided with notches 40, the function of which will be made manifest hereinafter. The horizontal flanges 36 are prolonged to form defleotors 4l which, when viewed in top plan, taper toward their forward ends, as shown in Figure 2. The deflectors 4l curve upwardly, as shown in Figure 4. Bearings 42 are mounted on the upper ends of the deflectors 41.y An adjusting screw 43 rotates in one bearing 42'and is threaded at 44 into the other bearing, the adjusting screw having a turning head 45, engaging the first specified bearing.

Vertically elongated openings 46 are formed in the vertical flanges 37 of' the shoes 35, the flanges having teeth 47 which project into the openings 46. The numeral 43 marks a relatively fixed but adjustable blade extended transversely of the shoes 35, the blade being mounted between the teeth 47. The blade on its lower surface is supplied with transverse ribs 49, which, cooperating with the teeth 47, aid in preventing the blade from moving endwise. Clamping screws 50 are threaded into the flanges 37 of the shoes 35. The upper surface of the blade 48 is provided adjacent to its ends with depressions 51 receiving the lower ends of the clamping screws 50, the screws, obviously aiding to hold the blades'48 in pl'ace.

A shaft 52 is j ournaled for rotation in the side pieces 17 of the auxiliary frame 15, and in the longitudinal bars 19, the shaft being retained, as indicated at 62against longitudinal movement.

The" shaft 52 carries a rotary topper, embodying a hub 53 and radially projecting arms 54, to which transverse bladesl 55 are secured as indicated at 56. The blades 55 are bluntlypointed as shown in dotted lines at 94 in Fig. 2; The arms are adapted to move. in the space 83 which exists'between the horizontal flanges 36 of the shoes 35 (note Figure 3). The blades 44 are adapted to pass through the notches 40 of the flanges 36, when the topper is rotated, it being understood that when the topper is rotated, the blades 55 pass above, and in close relation to, the relatively fixed blade 48, as indicated in Figure 4.

The means for rotating the topper include a sprocket wheel 57 secured to one end of the shaft 52 and cooperating with a sprocket chain 5S engaged around a sprocket wheel 59 carried by Va shaft 60 supported at 61 on one of the bars 4 of the main frame 2. The shaft 60 carries a sprocket wheel 63 mountcd to move with the sprocket wheel 59. The

sprocket. wheelv 63 is engaged by a sprocket chain 64 cooperating with a sprocket wheel 65 journaled on one end of the axle 1. A ground'wheel 67 is journaled on said end of the axle 1 and may be connected to the sprocket wheel 65 by a pawl and ratchet mechanism 66. |The construction is such that, when the machine is backed, motion will not be transmitted to the sprocket wheel 65.

Bearings 68 project rearwardly from the rod or support 21, and in the bearings, a shaft 69 is journaled. A shaft 70 is journaled in bearings 71 mounted on the longitudinal bars 3. The shafts 69 and 70 have sprocket rollers 32 around which is engaged a rearwardly and upwardly inclined belt conveyor 72. A cross chute 73 is shown in Figure 6, the chute being inclined downwardly from one side of the vehicle toward the other side thereof. The chute 73 carries cross` pieces 75 engaged in and secured to the upper longitudinal bars 3 of the main frame 2. The belt conveyor 72 discharges into the cross chute 73. A sprocket wheelv 76 is mounted on one end of the shaft 70 and is engaged by a sprocket chain 77 A shaft 78 is journaled in bearings 79 on the longitudinal bars 3, and/serves as a driving means for the sprocket chain 77, the shaft 78 being connected operatively by a sprocket chain 80 and suitable gearing 81, with the ground' wheel which is in the opposite side of the vehicle from the ground wheel 67 shown in Figure 1.

The drive is simple', and may be dismissed with brief comment, it being observed that the chains 77 and 64 are operated from the ground wheels ofI the vehicle, the chain 77 actuating theA belt conveyor 72, and the chain 64 transmitting rotary movement to the topper 5'4-5'5, by way of the sprocket chain 53 and the sprocket wheels 59 and 63.

The tops of the beets are directed between the flanges. 36 of the shoes 35 by the -defleetors 41. The deflectors may be adjusted towardV and awaj7 from each other by manipulating the screw 43, as indicated in Figure 3, it being possible toy adjust the shoes 35 toward and away fromv each other by sliding the parts 24 on the parts 23 of the auxiliary frame 15, the clamping screws 26 being manipulated to hold the hangers 22 in any positions to which they may have been adjusted.

The beets ultimately come into contact with the relatively fixed blade 48 and, as the rotary member shown in Figure 4 is operated, the blades 55 will cut off the tops of the beets. It is possible to adjust the blade 48 vertically, owing to the provision of the teeth 47, the blades bingv adj ustabler endwise, for any desired' purpose, for instance, to the end that a new portion of the cutting edge of the blade may be brought into operative fiectors 41 serving not only to direct'the beet tops between the flanges 36 of the shoes, but, as well, serving to facilitate the progress of the` shoes over the surface of the soil.

I claim l. In a device of the class described, a vehicle embodying a frame; shoes carried by the frame; means for mounting the slices on the frame for adjustment toward and away from each other; a rotary topper journaled on the frame and including a blade coacting with the shoes; and means for rotating the topper.

2. In a device of the class described, a vehicle including'a frame; shoes; means for mounting the shoes on the frame for adjustment toward and away from each other; means for adjusting the orward'ends ot the shoes toward and away from each other; a

rotary topper journaled onA the frame and coacting with the shoes; and means for rotating lthe topper.

3. In a device of the class described, a vehicle including a frame; shoes carried by the frame; a relatively fixed blade disposed transversely of the shoes; means for mounting the blade on the shoes for vertical adjustment;'a topper journaled on the frame and including a blade coacting with the first specified blade. j

4. In a device of the class described, a vehicle including a frame; shoes; means for connecting the shoes with the frame for transverse adjustment toward and away from each other; means for connecting the forwardends of the shoes together, thereby to securey a transverse adjustment between the forward ends of the shoes; a relatively fixed blade; means for mounting tlie blade on the shoes for vertical adjustment; and a rotary topper journaled on the frame, the topper including a blade vcoacting with said fixed blade. y f

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature. Y

JOSEPH WOLNY. 

